Tuesday’s Mini-Report

* Devastation in the Philippines: “An American aircraft carrier headed to the Philippines on Tuesday on an emergency mission to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan as the situation on the islands became increasingly desperate, with food and water supplies running low and bodies lying uncollected in the streets of at least one devastated city.”

* The above clip: “As the Philippines reeled in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan on Monday, a climate negotiator from the island nation made an emotional statement at the UN climate talks in Warsaw that was met with a standing ovation. In an address to the convention captured on YouTube, Naderev ‘Yeb’ Saoo said that the suffering of people in the Philippines should motivate the delegates to make this year’s climate talks count.”

* White House: “President Barack Obama spoke to the president of the Philippines to express condolences for the devastation brought by Typhoon Haiyan. White House press secretary Jay Carney said Obama spoke to President Benigno Aquino III Tuesday morning.”

* Israel: “With relations between Israel and the United States in distress over deep disagreements on Iranian nuclear negotiations and construction in West Bank settlements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday froze plans for building in a particularly contentious area outside Jerusalem known as E1.”

* Iranian talks: “The inconclusive negotiations over the weekend on Iran’s nuclear program were disappointing, but two critical points have mostly been ignored. First, diplomacy takes work, and agreements rarely flow seamlessly from beginning to end. Second, if all those inveighing against any deal – namely members of Congress, Israel and Saudi Arabia – see the weekend results as a new opportunity to sabotage it, what is the alternative?”

* Department of pots and kettles: “President Obama’s nominee to lead the Homeland Security Department is a ‘political hack,’ the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said Tuesday. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) criticized Jeh Johnson, Obama’s pick to lead the agency, and said outgoing New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis would have been better choices.”

* CFTC: “President Barack Obama is praising his choice to run the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as someone who doesn’t seek the spotlight but consistently delivers good results. Obama announced Tuesday he was nominating Timothy Massad to run the independent agency, which regulates the futures and options markets.”

* A second chance? “About 275,000 people across the country will receive emails over the next week inviting them to return to HealthCare.gov and sign up for insurance.”

* I didn’t have the patience to tackle today’s Richard Cohen column, but I’m very glad my friend Adam Serwer took the time to give Cohen’s unsettling observations a thoughtful response.